OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Victa Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers 1971 Self Propelled

Now as you can imagine - this flywheel was - S T U C K!!!!!

I really think this is the first and only time these electrics have seen the light of day since it left the factory.

Being the hacker that I am (or hopefully was) - I usually get flywheels off with a a hammer, couple of chisels/wedges, penetrating oil and a bit of patience. Usually got them off, but as you can imagine, damaged some things as well - but no more!!!

Although I must admit, I did have a bit of a go, but with a rubber mallet, and it was only a token effort. No chance was this thing going to budge.

After you guys talked me into buying a rattle gun, and still being on a bit of a high after(once again) learning how much easier a job is with the right tool - I decided to buy a Universal Flywheel Puller.

As you are probably aware - there are three holes in the top of the Victa Flywheel where you can attach some bolts, and then the puller exerts pressure on the crank and off she comes.

Problem No: 1 - the holes on the flywheel had no thread in them?!?!?! How are you supposed to attach the bolts with no thread??

So I decided to thread them myself - threaded them with 1/4 inch UNF in an effort to keep them what I thought would be period correct.

So now I could attach the Flywheel puller.




So just screw down the big bolt in the centre, which presses against the crank and it lifts off the flywheel without damaging/breaking anything.

But was this thing locked on there!!!! Harding surprising I guess seeing all the corrosion, but the amount of force and penetrating oil I used had me concerned that I had neglected to unlock something, or there was some retaining pin I was just shearing as I pulled the flywheel up.

Process was Penetrating Oil - wait - Screw down Flywheel Puller until I got worried - More Penetrating Oil - wait (about 1 hour) - More Oil - A couple of taps with rubber mallet - More Flywheel Puller pressure - wait - Oil - Pressure - Oil - Wait - Wait - more waiting....then - Nothing.

Often these sorts of things will resist and resist and then POP!! and you can get it off by hand from there - not this bugger it fought and fought for every last mm. But it did come off in the end - with no damage.

And here is what I found inside.

The inside of the Flywheel:




Not too bad - should clean up nicely.


The electrics.....








Ewwwwww!! Bit of a mess - obviously points and condensor will need replacing - although I will give the condensor a test just to see if its working.

it will be interesting to see if the coil is OK - unlikely, but again, I'll test it to see how it goes.

Now to see if I can free up the piston, likely need to split the cases but would have to to do that anyway to replace the bearings - another job that will very likely need to be done.

Anyway - I hope you're enjoying the photos.

Polybus